Monday, November 16, 2009

3Jack's Translation of TGM: Part 9Q

Power Package Loading Action is pretty much the exact opposite as power package release actions. I will go into the power package release actions later on, but that deals with terms such as 'full sweep release', 'snap release' and 'random sweep release.' With the loading action it's 'full sweep', 'snap' and 'random sweep' as well, but this deals with how the golfer 'loads' the club on the backswing.

Here's a video of Lindsey Gahm who uses a very circular, full sweep RELEASE.

As you can see, her left wrist uncocks on the downswing quite early, making for what's called in TGM terms a 'full sweep release.' Somebody like Hogan who can keep the wrist cocked on the downswing for a long time has what's called a 'snap' release.

Thus, since we are talking about the *loading* action and that the *loading* action is the exact opposite of the release action, than a full sweep loading action will have the golfer cock the left wrist very early in the backswing.

Thus, a 'snap' loading action being the opposite of a 'snap release' means that the golfer actually delays the left wrist cock. And thus anything between a 'snap' and a 'full sweep' is a 'random sweep.'

In the Gahm video she looks like she's using a 'random sweep loading action' which is of course followed by a 'full sweep release.' Hogan used a full sweep loading action with a snap release. Somebody like Sergio uses a snap loading action with a snap release.

10-23 (Delivery Paths)

Delivery path is the type of path the hands take to the ball at impact and is viewed from the Face On vantage point.

STRAIGHT LINE DELIVERY PATH - From the face on view, the hands go in a relatively straight line down to impact. This pic of Aaron Baddely (provided by Jeff Mann over at Perfect Golf Swing Review), shows a straight line delivery path.

The red line is the path that the hands will take. While the red line 'bends' around the 'delivery path' mainly concerns itself with how the hands move downward. Hitters and swingers can use straight line delivery path.

CIRCULAR DELIVERY PATH - Whereas the Straight Line Delivery Path moves in a straight line, the circular delivery path goes in a circle.

A lot of amateurs use a circular delivery path and that 'full sweep release', but that's only because they have lost their lag pressure and have a bent left wrist at impact. In reality if they could maintain the lag pressure and get a flat left wrist at impact, their delivery path would be straighter and they would either have a random sweep or snap release.

I'm not a big fan of the circular delivery path for these reasons along with it tends to 'disobey' the foot action section in 7-17 where Homer talks about avoiding getting the weight up on your toes. As you can see in Gahm's swing, she gets the weight up on the toes of her right foot. This is also done subconsciously to avoid hitting 3 feet behind the ball. This isn't exactly 'wrong' or 'flawed', but I do think getting the weight up on your toes can be problematic for a lot of golfers.

Cirular Delivery Paths are usually used by 'swingers' as they usually require the pivot to move pretty fast in order to keep the lag pressure and lag.

ANGLED LINE DELIVERY PATH - Angled Line means that the path forms an 'angle.' A look at the 4th frame in the pic below shows the angled line delivery path.

Homer states that this pattern is used with a plane shift where the golfer eventually gets the club on the elbow plane on the downswing.

TOP ARC AND STRAIGHT LINE DELIVERY PATH - 'Top Arc' basically means the golfer takes the backswing where at the top of the swing the hands are above the head. Here's Jack Nicklaus with a 'top arc' swing.

So, from the 'top arc' the hands eventually take a straight line delivery path here. Homer states that this is ideal for longitudinal acceleration, which means that this is ideal for 'swingers.'

TOP ARC AND ANGLED LINE - Golfer uses the 'top arc' here and then the hands eventually take an angled line path to the ball.

I believe the elbow plane just means you can't accomplish the angled line delivery path unless you're on that plane because of the biomechanics. I believe you really can't get much of a snap release unless you are on the elbow plane either.